Juneau's small business owners are optimistic

A recent opinion poll found that most of the nation’s smallest businesses are optimistic about the economy as a whole and the future of their own businesses.

The non-profit Small Business Majority announced its findings Friday in a press release.

Small or micro businesses of 10 employees or less continue to grow, according to SBM’s poll. More than half have employed a contractor in the past year and nearly a third hired a full time employee during that time.

“Half of them plan to hire within the next two years,” according to the release.

The nation’s smallest businesses created nearly half of the over 170,000 jobs created in October.

And not all are low paying jobs. More than 60 percent of mirco businesses have payrolls of over $50,000 a year. Almost three-quarters of micro business owners said their business was their sole source of income.

Small businesses also enjoy good longevity with two thirds in operation for over 10 years.

Owners have a positive outlook about their of small businesses. Half of all poll respondents said their business is doing well.

“…nearly seven in 10 believe their business will be faring well over the next couple of years,” according to Small Business Majority's release.